A Note:

6/2/13

I once told myself: IF I am accepted into grad school, this blog would no longer be updated. As it turns out, in April, I received news of my acceptance for the Fall 2013 semester, where I will attain a Master's degree of Science in Nutrition.

Running a blog, as many of you may already know, is a demanding side job once the excitement wears off. And once I fell out of the blogging community's loop (have you SEEN how many blogs there are now? Wow!), it was like the kiss of death. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into a blogging routine once this happened due to the disconnect I felt from the community.

So I took a break. I struggled with the loss and with missing my blog. And then I realized I didn't have to run Book Faery to still be a book reviewer; I could read my books and post reviews online. I'm still a book review blogger, just not in the traditional sense.

I'll still be online. You can chat with me on Twitter, where I'll be posting links to my reviews and talking books. I'll also be posting links to nutrition articles. And if you'd like to connect with me where I guarantee I will post reviews, just add me as a friend on Goodreads.

So that's all, folks! It's been a fun and amazing journey, and I thank you all for listening to my thoughts about books. I hope we all can keep in touch elsewhere :)

Friday, April 30, 2010

So I've gotta know: Are you interested in discovering lots of new blogs, all of which are GIVING AWAY A UNIQUE BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY PRIZE (for today only)?

Yes?

Well good, because you have the opportunity to win hundreds of prizes, all in one day! What makes this even better is that we've done all the work for you. You neither have to scan through Twitter, nor search through your Blogger Reading Lists. You don't even have to check your email every five minutes. Nope, we've got all the participating blogs listed and accessible through one simple *click* on your part.

Every blog that you visit will have all the links for you to follow--and all of these blogs will be offering a special (and EASY) BLOGMANIA giveaway... waiting just for you!

This is a new event, one that I hope you will all participate in! All of these blogs have unique prizes--not the typical... win one or two books by doing x, y, and z. Some are giving away jewelry, while others are creating surprise packages sure to catch your attention.

So what's my prize for this awesome-ness?

FIFTEEN surprise books.
You heard me. FIFTEEN--15--surprise books.

Freebies!
Even more surprises with these. One of them will be a $25 Amazon gift card.

25 extra entries to my 140 follower giveaway, open to those who have already entered, and those who are just about to.

I will also award five other people 25 extra entries for my giveaway, because I'm still celebrating! Probably not as exciting as the main prize, but this increases your chances of winning my other giveaway.

I'm on crack for doing THIS, plus my 140 Follower Giveaway at the same time, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to participate in this fun event. I'll just blame it on spring fever =)

You must be a GFC follower. (Follow button is located in the left sidebar)

You need to fill out the form above in order to be entered--comment entries will be ignored, sorry.

*** The prize package for this contest is for the US and Canada only. For International people: you may still try and win extra entries for my 140 follower giveaway. Simply leave a comment saying that you're an International participant and that you'd like to be entered for the extra entries drawing ***

Contest ends 11:59pm April 30th.

Leaving a comment (or Tweeting) is not required, but is HIGHLY appreciated.

And don't forget to keep checking out all the other blogs for this awesome event! The links to participating blogs, along with further instructions, can be found below:

"WELCOME TO BLOGMANIA!

My Blog is 69of 123.

We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing. Each blog will have a number and each new blog link will have a number. These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Why not take a moment to make a list of blog numbers 1-123 and check off the blogs as you go?

I know you’ll want to visit as many blogs today as you can. So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, why not bookmark that site. Later, when you have more time, you can discover all its fabulous treasures."

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Half-Navajo Janet Begay comes to Magellan to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the police chief's daughter. But the people of Magellan sense that Janet is not what she seems, and they're right.

Janet possesses extraordinary power which is tied to the storms that waft across the desert. The only person who can control her when she's caught in the storm's evocative power is Mick, a dark-haired, blue-eyed biker Janet can't seem to touch with her powers. He can weild fire and not get burned, and Janet's never sure where he goes when they're not together.

Together they investigate mysterious disappearances, which Janet fears are tied to her mother's people, the mythical gods from below the earth. They are helped along the way by Coyote and Crow, but these shapeshifting gods have their own

Obtained: ARC courtesy of AllysonGenre: Paranormal Romance/Contemp. Fantasy
Series: Stormwalker
1. Stormwalker
2. Firewalker (coming in Nov 2010)My Rating: My Opinion:
Wow. Just wow. I had originally thought that the Native American female lead was soon becoming overused. I thought: okay, the concept of the story sounds interesting, but this Janet character probably wont stand a chance against Mercy Thompson or Jane Yellowrock. How very wrong I was.

If anything, I must concede now that Janet holds this certain type of allure that neither Jane nor Mercy have. I've always been attracted to the types of characters who have some elemental powers, and Janet Begay's specialty is definitely something that interests me. As a Stormwalker, she has the ability to control any storm around her--even if it gives her the worst hangover-feeling after. Imagine Storm from X-men, except instead of commanding storms around her, Janet needs a storm in order to tap into her power. This lends to interesting situations that reveal just how cunning and resourceful she can be.

There is no random man that Janet stumbles upon during her journey. Instead, readers are introduced to a sexy, arrogant, frustrating fire-wielder named Mick. Can I just say that Mick is one sizzling ex-boyfriend? In the beginning of the book, when he finally saunters into the current scene (and into my heart), Janet slowly begins to explain why the two separated in the first place, and I felt myself sympathizing with the poor girl. Who would ever want to be smothered while dating someone? I know I wouldn't. Yet despite this, I still wanted to grab Janet by the shoulders to give her a good shake. Actually, now that I think about it, I wanted to do the same to Mick also. Gotta love it when characters are ignorant...especially in the good way.

But Tori, you might ask, how can characters be ignorant in a good way? While the tension betwixt the two characters is frustrating to a certain extent, I think that on some level, the two know that they--despite differing feelings in regards to safety and space--care for each other, which comes before all else. There is this certain appeal, for me at least, when two characters have a history together. Allyson doesn't instantly deliver a relationship with a happily ever after for either characters, but she does offer a relationship with instant gratification. Readers aren't forced to be wary due to anything being rushed. If Janet and Mick decide they want to have sex, then we can rationalize it by saying that, due to a past together, they are reconnecting. Humans do it all the time. It was perfect for the two of them.

I'm almost tempted to guarantee that this plot will make you grow animated at some point, but I won't. Read the book, and see for yourself if you had the same reaction I did. For me, it was when I reached the end of chapter 17. I won't go into the details about what happened (because it is way too juicy to spoil for anyone) but all I could think and gasp and then scream was: "What, what, what, WHAT?!" In fact, I'm still flabbergasted. Biggest. plot. twist. ever. I loved it!

Allyson James has a new and interesting series well worth reading. Not only are the covers for this series beautiful (sorry, had to mention it), but her characters and plot are so unique and interesting that one would be deemed crazy for not giving this series a shot. You hear me? Get this book pronto!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Hey there everyone! Many of you were so excited to participate in the ALPHA MALES posts. Thank you for that enthusiasm, and for supplying so many male characters! I've compiled a list of alphas that I will post later on, just so you can all see everyone's picks :)

I suppose that, by the title of this post, you know I'm not done asking questions. Since so many of you were interested in the alpha post (and since I know a lot of you read books with heroine leads), I have a new question for everyone:

Who are your favorite kick ass heroines?

This list applies to ALL females in any paranormal books you can think of (PNR, Urban Fantasy, YA, etc)

List all the lovely ladies you can think of. Please supply their name/series/author, thanks!

Once, Atlas, the Titan god of Strength, was the Greek goddess Nike’s slave. Now, he is her master. And soon these sworn rivals destined to destroy each other will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love…

The Darkest PrisonNote: This review focuses solely on the third story of this book featuring Atlas and Nike. You can see the first part of this review about "The Darkest Fire" here, and the second part of this review about "The Amazon's Curse" here.
Obtained: Netgalley Genre: Paranormal RomanceSeries: Lords of the UnderworldMy Rating:
This was the perfect length, with the perfect ending.
Story:
Nike, Greek goddess of strength and victory, and Atlas, Titan god of strength, were always rivals. When the Titans were locked away in Tartarus, Nike enjoyed taunting the god, proving that she was far superior.

Upon the defeat of the Greeks, Atlas was sure he would have revenge. What better way to extract that revenge then to brand Nike the way she branded him ages ago? However, upon glimpsing his name on her back, Atlas is starting to have second thoughts about revenge.

My Opinion:
The Darkest Prison was my favorite short story out of the three that were provided in this book. Despite introducing new characters for readers, the love that blossomed betwixt Nike and Atlas was neither rushed nor unbelievable. I was left feeling satisfied and, once again, begging for more.

These two immortals live up to their arrogant reputations, while also revealing a more vulnerable side. I believe that the combination of the two--especially the alpha male and female clashing heads--is what made their tale a successful one. It will be interesting to see what Gena will do in her future Lords of the Underworld books--especially considering the outcome of this tale.

Into the Dark is well worth reading. I will be buying a copy of this when it comes out on April 27th.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Zane, a fierce vampire warrior, has been enslaved by the Amazons. Nola, a lovely Amazon soldier, has been cursed with invisibility. Now, these two stubborn enemies must overcome the pasts that haunt them and embrace a love that can set them free…

The Amazon's CurseNote: This review focuses solely on the second story of this book featuring Zane and Nola. You can see the first part of this review about "The Darkest Fire" here, and the third part of this review about "The Darkest Prison" here.
Obtained: Netgalley Genre: Paranormal RomanceSeries: AtlantisMy Rating:
A wonderful conclusion to a series I wish would never have ended.

Story:
Nola is an Amazon warrior, abused when she was younger. Zane, an equally abused vampire, was a demon whore. Both were forced to partake in a cruel game devised by the gods. Both despised any persons' touch.

Nola scorned this vampire...until being punished and sentenced to a life of invisibility. She could see and hear all, but she, in turn, could not be seen, touched, or heard.

Zane is once again forced into slavery, this time, as a sex slave to the Amazons. He scorns their touches, threatens death to all those attempting to touch him. Ironic that the only one he wishes he could touch is the one cursed to be invisible to all. Or is she?

My Opinion:
Like I said, this was a wonderful wrap-up to Gena's Atlantis series. Short and sweet, and much needed to tie off the loose ends that left me wondering what would eventually happen after The Vampire's Bride.

It was strange, re-entering Atlantis after being neglected of it for so long. For those of you unable to recall the past events in the previous book, Gena makes sure to do a quick recap in Nola's point of view. Being able to witness what went on in this Amazon's head--especially because she was so smitten now--was nice for a change.

I was ecstatic upon the discovery that Delilah and Layel made an appearance in this story too! The little twist thrown in there also left me feeling warm and fuzzy. They deserve it.

Here is a list of the added prizes (not including the originally offered books, which can be found towards the top of the post):

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Shadowfae by Erica Hayes

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Ill Wind by Rachel Caine

Ravenous by Sharon Ashwood

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

Evermore by Alyson Noel

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Num8ers by Rachel Ward

and Falling, Fly by Skyler White

Marked by PC/Kirstin Cast

Embers by Laura Bickle

When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs

The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

Ice by Sara Beth Durst

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker

Nightwalker by Jocelyn Drake

Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn

*Just Added* Demons Not Included by Cheyenne McGray

*Just Added* Greywalker by Kat Richardson

*Just Added* The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson

*Just Added* Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter

*Just Added* Urban Shaman by C.E Murphy

*Just Added* Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur

Good luck to those who have entered, and I thank all who have participated thus far with discussion questions, commenting on book reviews, and my new contest feature. All of you, both new and old, who follow Book Faery are the sweetest people ever.

Now enough babbling from me, here's the form :) You can submit a maximum of FIVE DIFFERENT Twitter links advertising for my 140 Follower Giveaway. That means you can fill out this form up to 5 times. Anything after that will be ignored.

Geryon is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. Kadence is the goddess of Oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a dangerous horde of demon lords—and discover a passion unlike any other.

The Darkest Fire Note: This review focuses solely on the first story of this book featuring Geryon and Kadence. You can see the second part of this review about "The Amazon's Curse" here, and the third part of third review about "The Darkest Prison" here.

Story:
Kadence, the Goddess of Oppression, is forced to monitor Hell's walls, ensuring that they never crumble. Geryon, a "monster," is stationed to guard Hell, protecting the living world from the vengeful spirits trapped inside. The two have worked side-by-side for years, never once uttering a word to the other. But, when demons start causing some trouble, will Kadence and Geryon be able to overcome the trial set before them, or, will they ultimately be defeated?

My Opinion:
I usually try to avoid short stories, simply because they're too brief for me. I'm always left craving for more, bemoaning how cruel the authors and publishers are for releasing such a short snippet of an idea that I feel has potential. Usually, I'm also never convinced that the two characters are in love in these types of situations, unless their relationship was developed in prior books.

With that said, I was slightly skeptical in regards to this blossoming relationship. I neither doubted the physical attraction, nor the feelings of liking the other, but in regards to love? Still too brief for me to fully believe.

While I wished that this story was slightly longer--I'm a sucker for these stories--I was not left disgruntled. The outcome was something so creative and unique that I have to applaud Gena for being so frighteningly clever. Never once in those 90 pages did I suspect that that was how the story would end.

If you send me any future emails at the aforementioned address, you will receive a response from this one:tori.book.faery[at]gmail[dot]com.

I have decided after careful consideration to go with a more blog-related email. Having not initially expected (when I started blogging) to be contacting people much (really, I didn't know what to expect when I started), I used an old, old email address--as you can probably see. Don't ask me what I was thinking when I made it...I'm not sure.

If you usually talk to me on Google Chat, you can still talk to me with my old email. I've connected the two accounts (hopefully it doesn't get too messy, otherwise I will completely migrate to the new one).

Anywho, Happy Sunday! Part 1 or 3 of my book review for Into the Dark will be posted later today.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Do you have a contest/giveaway?
Come participate in my newest blog feature:The Faerie's Contest Finds
Now's your chance to post your links and discover other contests fellow bloggers are hosting. Let's spread the word to help bloggers (both new & old) and authors!
Don't forget to pick up the button! :)

Come join the fun and celebrate with me by winning books! Lots of prizes (including TWO signed books), lots of extra entries, lots of ways to win. The more people you refer, the more entries YOU get, plus more winners and books will be added!

Are you tired of trying to find all the contests and giveaways that blogs are offering, but to no avail? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a link to a bunch of contests, all in one place? Or, maybe you’re sick of coordinating contests you constantly advertise for that don’t get the attention they deserve? If you’ve been forced to cope with any of these situations, then you’ve come to the right place!

The Faerie’s Contest Finds is a new weekly feature where readers, bloggers, and even authors can gather together to not only advertise for their book/swag contests, but to also enter other giveaways. The best part: you can post links to ALL of your current contests (please be sure to not double post). These contests are NOT restricted to paranormal themes.

The beauty of a weekly update is simple: YOU have the control. This list will not grow stagnant, because it is being redone every Saturday.

To make it even better, if you want to share the word, there's an option on the link list to copy the code and post this list to your own blog. Just be sure to include the Faerie Contest Finds button!

Please help support this new feature by adding The Faerie's Contest Finds button to your sidebar! The more we spread the word about this weekly post, the more popular it will become. That means more visitors and participants for YOUR contests!

Many thanks to Parajunkee for designing the button for this contest list.

I usually don't post about book covers, but while I was updating my Thirsting for Thursday post, I stumbled upon Allyson James' second book in her Stormwalker series.

Stormwalker comes out on May 4th. Here's the cover for it:

"Half-Navajo Janet Begay comes to Magellan to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the police chief's daughter. But the people of Magellan sense that Janet is not what she seems, and they're right. Janet possesses extraordinary power which is tied to the storms that waft across the desert. The only person who can control her when she's caught in the storm's evocative power is Mick, a dark-haired, blue-eyed biker Janet can't seem to touch with her powers. He can weild fire and not get burned, and Janet's never sure where he goes when they're not together. Together they investigate mysterious disappearances, which Janet fears are tied to her mother's people, the mythical gods from below the earth. They are helped along the way by Coyote and Crow, but these shapeshifting gods have their own agendas.
Book One of a new Contemp. Fantasy / Paranormal Romance series."

"When Mick goes missing, it's up to Janet to find him and figure out how to keep him safe from persecution by his own people. She'll need a little help from her friends, old and new: Nash and Coyote; Cassandra, a wicked Wicca; and a few strange beings who are stirring things up in Magellan.

Stormwalker has been an excellent read thus far. I've been somewhat distracted while reading it, just because I have a .pdf version of the novel (and I suck at reading stuff on my laptop). However, despite all the distractions and interruptions, I'm loving the world James has created thus far.

Tell me you love these covers! If you don't, then you must be insane! The second is definitely my favorite so far. I want a friggin poster of this!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.

Obtained: Leanna & DorchesterGenre: Paranormal Romance/Historical Fantasy
Series: Strangely Beautiful
1. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (book review)
2. The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone ParkerMy Rating:
This is the first series that has received this kind of grade two times in a row thus far, and Leanna is currently one of the only authors who has received the Faerie of Honor rating two times in a row. Want to know what this special rating is? Go here!
Story:
*SPOILERS ALERT*Percy is finally united with The Guard and her beloved Alexi, now that the gorgon has been defeated. What better way to celebrate this new union and victory than by getting married to the one you love? Being engaged to the darling Professor makes it seem as if life cannot improve in any way.

Yet constant reminders of a looming war--thanks to a new ghostly character who rivals Alexi in the moodiness factor--seem to dampen the honeymoon on numerous occasions. With war, and the warnings of a betrayal, on the minds of The Guard's members, how will everyone cope?*END SPOILERS ALERT*

My Opinion:Darkly Luminous--much like in SB#1 (Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker)--started off somewhat slowly. Leanna took care to ensure that no detail was shrugged off while setting the scene. She focuses on Percy and Alexi's relationship so thoroughly, I can guarantee you there is absolutely no room to doubt the love betwixt them.

The second half of Darkly Luminous finally begins to pick up speed. Much like a person crawling up the hill of a roller coaster at a snail's pace, Leanna builds the tension between the members of The Guard and between Alexi and Percy. Without warning, readers quickly plummet down in a series of events that will make your jaw drop. My eyes were literally glued to the pages at this point. I ignored everyone (including my college professor...twice. Yes, I was reading during class LOL) to keep on going. I also nearly screamed in class upon reading what Darkness murmured in the Whiper-world.

Alexi, while cold and almost brutal to an extent in SB#1, undergoes a transformation. Instead of being constantly cold and scowling, his persona maintains a brilliant vitality about him. He's a pervert too! I was laughing hysterically at some of the comments he made to Percy and Elijah. Oh, and despite his alpha-esque qualities, Percy slowly learn how to put the man in his place. I was cheering for her inside my head the whole time.

Like I've said before, this series is definitely worth reading. It is a new and exciting breath of fresh air, sure to leave you salivating for more.

You can read the whole post about these tips at Between the Pages. Just posting my Sparknote version of the bullet points for you all because Sparknotes are awesome.

Start visiting blogs as early as you can. If Book Faery is going to be your first stop in the Blogmania tour, then you can expect my post to be up at precisely 12:00 AM EST on Friday, April 30th. (Psst…That’s next Friday!!)

People from all over the world will be participating. Also keep this in mind, because not all blog posts will be up at midnight. Some people may be manually posting their contests right before they go to work.

Each blog will have their own giveaway requirements. Hopefully they won’t be too tedious. (For me, all you’ll have to do is be a GFC follower and fill out a quick entry form) If you find a blog you like through your search, make a note of their page and come back to visit later.

For however many hours it takes you on Friday, you are going to be a contest entering machine! (I made this one up because it sounded cool) Tell people to pause their beer pong tournaments. Tell the kids and hubby (or wifey) to make their own dinner that night. Tell your boss your wacky eskimo Aunt Petunia from Antarctica just came to visit and you can’t make it to work (don’t do that one… money is good) YOU NEED TO WIN CONTESTS!

There will be over 100 blogs participating. They’re saying to make a checklist so you can cross blogs off after you visit/enter. I say you choose a participating blog, use them as your reference point, and [ctrl]+click links to open them in a new tab. You save a tree in the process! :D

Blogs participating are extremely diverse. You won’t just be seeing paranormal or YA blogs. It also means a bunch of the prizes are, in turn, going to be diverse. Hooray.

There’s more points, so like I said, go check out Between the Pages if you feel like you need to be extra prepared for this. This is the last post I’ll be making about Blogmania. Keep an eye on Twitter [@Book_Faery] if you need any future reminders. Otherwise, I’ll see you next Friday! :)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Before I begin, I just wanted to say that when I went to search "Jacob Black without..." Google automatically finished with: "his shirt on." LOL I love it!

Major thanks to everyone who posted their favorite ALPHA MALES last week, and who continue to do so now. The list is growing, and will hopefully continue to grow!

An interesting thought came to me while reading all of the answers supplied. Most (like 99.99%) of the alpha males mentioned were from Paranormal Romances or Urban Fantasy genres.

So here's my new question for you all:
Can you think of alpha males (or potential alpha males) from other genres like YA lit?

Now's the time to include any YA paranormal readers you're friends with!

I found it extremely interesting that all of the men listed (that I knew of) were strictly PNR/Urban Fantasy characters. Which made me start to wonder: why is that? Why are books intended for older audiences abundant with alphas? Is it because alpha characters--or potential alphas--in YA are too young yet to be that arrogant, (insert quality here) that we associate with the term "alpha male?" Or, is it more because YA has an entirely different focus behind it?

One person said Jacob from Twilight was one of their favorite alpha picks.

I'm going to supply Ash from The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. He may not be *entirely* alpha-ish yet like the men in PNR, but I personally think he has the qualities to be one in the future.

So, if you can think of them, who are your younger alpha picks? List as many as you can think of!

Monday, April 19, 2010

"A former operative for the CIA, romance and erotica authorBRIGIT ZAHARApreviously released her passion for excitement and adventure via her work, spending a great deal of time traveling throughout the United States and Europe, with lengthy spells in New York, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Venice, London, Florence and Malta.

After taking an early retirement, Brigit then looked to her hobby of writing romantic suspense as a means of indulging her need for pulse-pounding action. From there, her preference very quickly turned to erotica. Her literary specialties in the genre are paranormal (vampires, mermen, werewolves) and contemporary love stories including more than a few breathtaking threesomes.
Today, Brigit lives in a seaside villa in Majorca, spending the steamy days penning even steamier stories and the cool, ocean breeze-kissed evenings researching love scenes with her heart's destiny and husband of nine years."

"Galeria is ready to hit the streets of L.A. for a quick snack and maybe a little shopping. She is a very happy, satisfied woman—having just left her two hot vampire lovers sleeping soundly in her bed. But their lives weren’t always so wonderful, such a long time ago in Rome...

Back then, Galeria was the emperor's daughter. She wasn’t supposed to have a scorching secret affair with the beautiful and bountiful Cassian, the Roman Empire’s greatest gladiator. Nor should she have taken comfort in the massive marble-like arms of Atticus—Cassian’s best friend, her night chamber guard and a closet vampire—when informed of Cassian’s supposed demise.Too late, they discover that Cassian lives, and overcome with jealousy, he challenges Atticus to a battle to the death in the arena. Galeria is caught in the middle, tormented by her feelings for these two powerful men. But strange and mysterious things are about to happen—rituals that will change all their lives forever."

Tori: Is there anything else you can tell newcomers about yourself that we can't find through your site?

Brigit: While I suppose many of my readers may have already deduced this, but for the rest, I want to profess myself to be a bona fide romantic. I very much believe in the end of the rainbow, finding your soul mate, happily ever afters, guidance, insight and creativity always coming from beyond and without exception, all things turn out as they should.

Tori: For those of us who may be unfamiliar with your works, could you supply us with some insight in regards to your writing? Do you favor one particular genre above all the rest?
Brigit: I originally started with the hazy aim of writing category romance but very quickly discovered my style was far too edgy and erotic for the folks at Harlequin J So, heeding the words of Shakespeare “To thine own self be true” I chose NOT to try and square-peg-into-a-round-hole my storytelling but rather let it be what it was, believing I would find a market for my particular voice. And I have. Erotica.

Tori: Do you have one particular book that you adore above all the rest? If so, which is it and why?
Brigit: Wow, that’s really hard. I know it’s a terrible cliché but each book really does feel like an individual child with its own personality that started with a spark of inspiration. After nurturing it through much joy and pain you finally give birth and hope it has a good life! LOL That all having being said, I will admit that I really liked the historical back stories in CREAMY DELIGHTS and THE TURNING, the setting and romanticism of CATCH OF THE DAY (which readers want a sequel to!) as well as CHOCOLATE CRAVING, and the whole fantasy escape feel of ENCHANTED PALETTE (coming May 14). I also enjoy writing gay erotica. STUD, my first foray into that bedroom, comes out this summer.Tori: Interesting, I guess I'll have to look into your May 14th release! So what is your favorite scene, character, or line from The Turning?
Brigit: I have to say that while Atticus began as a secondary character, the strength of his integrity regarding his particular plights really won my heart: A former gladiator champion and current closet vampire in love with the reigning Roman champ’s (AND his best friend’s) woman – the latter of whom he has been handpicked to serve as her private guard each night. Talk about a clusterf***!Atticus also gave me my favorite line in the book:“Above all else, even love, honor must prevail.”

Tori: Wow, you could say that again! Glad I'm not in his position. Could you describe the hero and heroine in this particular tale?
Brigit: In addition to Atticus (described above), there is the ailing emperor’s daughter Galeria and her secret lover Cassian – the current gladiator champion of Rome. The trouble begins when Cassian is reported slain in Greece during the country’s annual Tour of Champions. Devastated, Galeria seeks comfort in the one person who knows of her love for Cassian – Atticus. But when Cassian returns to Rome, very much alive, a battle for Galeria’s love, and life, ensues.Tori: Sounds like there's lots of good old tension and drama to keep readers interested. If you could give a quick synopsis about The Turning what would it be?
Brigit: Terminal girl falls in “forbidden” love with boy, boy dies on the job, girl turns to boy’s friend who has always secretly loved her and is, sssssh don’t tell, a vampire. But boy returns not dead at all but madder than a wet hen about his friend and lover’s involvement. Both boys fight to the death…or rather UNdeath, after which they jointly save girl from her own demise.Tori: Was the story-line for The Turning difficult to write? What inspired you to write about this tale in the first place?
Brigit: Not at all. It just came to me. Like so many of my stories, I just start writing and some little detail will alter the course of the storyline. In THE TURNING, the opening scene takes place present day with Galeria sandwiched between Cassian and Atticus inside their coffin built for three. As she is touching Cassian’s broad, muscular chest, she feels “numerous raised scars.” I don’t know where that detail came from but as soon as I wrote it, I knew there had to be a reason for the scars. As I envisioned the appearance of his chest, the image of a gladiator appeared in my mind’s eye. Right then and there, I knew the story would go back to ancient Rome.Tori: Sounds like Galeria's one lucky girl. Are any of the female characters from your books somewhat based off yourself in some way?
Brigit: From time to time, I will write a line of dialogue that has my own personal voice, or a character will have an emotional response to a scenario that I can relate to but that’s about as far as the similarity goes.

Tori: Do you listen to any music when you write?
Brigit: Yes. I like to choose instrumental music that embodies the mood of the story I’m working on. Lyrics distract me so I seldom use anything with vocals. Ambient stations can be a good choice however for THE TURNING, I exclusively listened to the soundtracks of (big surprise) GLADIATOR and THE LAST SAMURAI. I like Han Zimmer’s sense of passion and his moving melodies.Tori: How long does it take you to write a book - from the day you start writing to it being published?
Brigit: When I’m really in the zone, I can start and finish a “quickie” in a week. But more times than not, it takes between 2-3 weeks. From there, depending on the editor and publishing backlog, it can take an additional 6-8 weeks before it hits the shelves.

Brigit is offering a free copy of The Turning for one lucky commenter. Now you have the opportunity to submerge yourself in a new and exciting world!

Giveaway Guidelines:
1. Open to US residents only.
2. You must be a follower. When you leave a comment, make sure you provide a link to your blog (if you have one) or a link to your GFC user profile.
3. Include your email at the end of your comment. If you are uncomfortable posting it publicly, contact me. Note: I will be forwarding your email address to the author, should you win.
4. Giveaway ends 4/23
5. Brigit will be stopping by throughout the week to leave a comment or two. If you have any questions, be sure to check back and she if she's answered them!

Advertising for this interview/giveaway (Tweeting/Facebook/etc) will earn you extra entries. Please provide the links at the end of your comments or REPLY to your comment with the link(s).

Sunday, April 18, 2010

I'm still bogged down with books to read and review before all the events in May, which means this week will probably be lacking reviews again. I'm sorry! May/next week will more than make up for this lapse, I promise :]

Despite the lack of reviewing activity, I will still be posting. Here's a tentative overview of what will be happening this week:

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Come join the fun and celebrate with me by winning books! Lots of prizes (including TWO signed books), lots of extra entries, lots of ways to win. The more people you refer, the more entries YOU get, plus more winners and books will be added!

I've been having an intense debate with a few friends this week. It has gotten so intense, that at one point, I think each of us were ready to grab a couple of heavy hardcovers--ANNA KARENINA GO!--and start smacking each other over the heads with them. Despite the urges, we behaved. *puts Anna Karenina away* We are, after all, civilized women...

So now I turn to you, because I know you guys wouldn't ever attack me with a book. (right? ...right?!)

What I want to know:

WHO are your top 5 paranormal Alpha males?
They can be from paranormal romances, YA books, anything! I just want to know who your top 5 are. (Ex: Adam from Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series)

WHO are your top 3 alpha male-writing authors?
Once again, this can be any kind of paranormal author. If you feel that this author writes believable alphas that you love, then list them!

WHAT is your favorite paranormal series that contains an alpha male?
Please mention who wrote the series, and which character this is.

Thank you in advance to everyone who participates in this! I'm plotting a future event (fingers crossed that it will be a big one) and I want to make sure that you all are involved in some way or other!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

So lately I've been writing a bunch of book reviews, but they're ARCs and I can't post them until it's closer to the release date. That means no book review today, but I wanted to leave you all with a couple of silly links:

For the Twilight fans--and especially the haters--I think this will give you all a laugh.
Disclaimer: If you are a Twi-hard in Chemistry class, I did not draw this (I suck at drawing with a mouse), so don't throw acid in my face, thanks.

Did you ever have the feeling that someone wanted to eat you? (Get out of here you perverts, I didn't mean it that way) Well if you have, then this following strip will help you figure out if your suspicions are true!

Monday, April 12, 2010

First off, THANK YOU!! I didn’t expect so many people to respond to my post earlier, but I’m glad you all did!

I made a teensy mistake when I was linking book covers earlier—meant to put Stray by Rachel Vincent, not Shift. I haven’t started that series yet, but I’m going to pretend all the votes for Shift were really for Stray since everyone seemed to be in agreement that this series is awesome.

Which means that this week I’ll be starting Vincent’s Shifters series.

I was sitting on my floor, a pile of new and shiny books taunting me from their perch against the wall. Chewing my lip, my hand slowly inched toward the book in the middle, when suddenly, another book caught my eye by flapping its cover menacingly. It screamed: “NO! Read me instead!” before threatening me with bodily harm if I neglected it. Again.

My eye twitched, hand retreating.

True story. My books threatened to attack me in my sleep. ...Okay so maybe that didn't happen, but imagine if books could threaten you? I would have faced an early book-y demise long ago, that's for sure.

And you know what else? I still never chose a book. Which is why I'm at a loss because I need a book to read, and I've got too many choices. Ever have the problem of wanting to read too many books, all at the same time?

If you have, then you should know how miserable a feeling it is. I was hopping around my room last night, picking up one book, only to gingerly place it back on the ground to consider another. Then it dawned upon me... my fellow book readers could help me!

SO NOW I ASK YOU ALL:
What book should I read?

I was nice to you all. I narrowed it down to those three. Leave me a comment about which book you think I should read please!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Come join the fun and celebrate with me by winning books! Lots of prizes (including TWO signed books), lots of extra entries, lots of ways to win. The more people you refer, the more entries YOU get, plus more winners and books will be added!

This week was a slow week review-wise. I did read though! I just wrote a bunch of ARC reviews for later in the month :)

So here's a picture of what I got this week. I'm really excited about it!

You can't really tell from the picture, but that's a tote bag in the back of the books.
Anyway, I got the whole Demonica series by Larissa Ione on Saturday!

I won these books at the Borders True Romance blog.
Be sure to check out Sue Grimshaw's blog--there's lots of authors stopping by, and plenty of contests to enter!

Jackie Brighton woke up in a dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her familiar B-cups have somehow become double Ds, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever...with a fallen angel. All she remembers is gorgeous Noah's oddly hypnotic blue eyes...and then a dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a sexy itch. With help from Noah, Jackie begins to adapt to her new lifestyle--until she accidentally sends Noah into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands herself in a fierce battle for an ancient halo with the queen's wickedly hot right-hand man. Who just happens to be the vampire who originally bit her. How's a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy's so hard to resist?

Friday, April 9, 2010

How about this: are you trying to let other readers and bloggers know about your contest, but to no avail? Well fear no more my lovely readers, Terry Kate over at Romance in the Backseat, has added a new feature that you will absolutely adore. You now have the option to sign up for a monthly newsletter.

Clicking here will take you to a form. This form is to sign up for said newsletter. That’s right! You don’t even have to check for a blog post, everything will be emailed to you every month for your convenience. How cool is that?!

Bloggers with contests, go fill out another form here if you want your contests included in the newsletter. You’ll have to provide:

Your Name

Blog Link (I put my contest link)

Name of your giveaway

Description of your giveaway including your prizes

Start/End Dates

Please be sure to submit all your giveaway information by April 25th!

That’s it. Go check it out, and be sure to thank Terry for organizing all of this! Tomorrow I will be posting my book review of Shadowfae up. Many apologies for neglecting to do that yesterday and today—I was having a difficult time writing this review.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

There’s an exciting event coming up. Each participating blog will be offering a huge prize—and they aren’t your typical run of the mill book giveaway prizes, either.

Are you interested? You should be!

Mark off Friday, April 30th on your calendars, everyone. You will NOT want to miss this day. Hundreds of blogs, hundreds of giveaways, LOTS of chances to win!

That means: LOTS OF FREE STUFF! Have I got your attention yet?!

(clicky on the picture to visit Lynda’s blog in a new window)

Blogomania is a new event, hosted by Between the Pages. This event occurs twice a year, which means you have two opportunities a year to enter hundreds of giveaways all organized and listed for YOUR ease. You can now discover new and interesting blogs, and meet lots of wonderful people in 24 hours.

And what do you have to do? Absolutely nothing, except visiting the blogs, following their simple guidelines, and entering their contests!

You must be thinking to yourself: this is too good to be true, or, are you wondering why bother?

Let me provide you with a few examples of the prizes:

Jewelry

Signed Books

Gift cards to places like Amazon

One of my prizes in the freebies batch:$25 Amazon gift card

With a LOT more included. You’ll just have to stop by on April 30th to see what else I’m offering :)

Now, I know not everyone has the luxury of having Friday off. If you’re a night owl, you'll want to come stop by Book Faery at midnight, which is when I will be posting my own entry for this.

Don’t forget: Midnight on April 30th is when you’ll be able to discover what my huge prize will be for this, while also attaining the links to all the other participating blogs. Please keep in mind that not all blogs will be posting their giveaways at this time, but later in the morning.

So save my future post in your favorites if I’ll be your first stop, and be sure to check out all the other new and exciting blogs! You sure will regret it if you don’t enter to win some of these prizes.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Jackie Brighton woke up in a dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her familiar B-cups have somehow become double Ds, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever...with a fallen angel. All she remembers is gorgeous Noah's oddly hypnotic blue eyes...and then a dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a sexy itch. With help from Noah, Jackie begins to adapt to her new lifestyle--until she accidentally sends Noah into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands herself in a fierce battle for an ancient halo with the queen's wickedly hot right-hand man. Who just happens to be the vampire who originally bit her. How's a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy's so hard to resist?

Story:
Jackie's a girl who is insecure with her body. She thinks herself plain, and works at a museum. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up in a dumpster of all places, noodles attached to her hair, and a hobo sitting outside said dumpster with her purse. Supposedly, she was dead

Now imagine her shock when, as she's stumbling out of an alley after a night of "intense partying", she runs into one of the guys she had mind-blowing sex with. Despite her disgusting appearance, he wants to take her out for food.

Fast forward, and she's fucking his brains out again. Then he gets kidnapped by an evil vampire queen, and it's Jackie's new mission to save her fallen angel from a horrible demise.

My Opinion:
I hated Jackie. Now I dislike her with a burning passion. I think it's because I had all day yesterday to not continue with this book that I re-approached it with a more open mind.

Why, you might be wondering, do I hate her? I need to list this, because I have point after point that keep coming back to me.

She's whiney. So incredibly whiney that I cannot believe that the people around her didn't want to strangle her. I would have wanted to. In fact, she is the type of person who you know will crack under the pressure because she's so weak and whiney and blah. Did I mention that I wanted to literally shove a sock in her mouth? Because I do.

She's selfish. Never mind the fact that her new succubus friend just blew thousands of dollars on a new wardrobe for her. She's got to be a huge bitch because she's scared and just got laid and doesn't know what the heck is going on. Forget about the fact that she just finished talking with someone she was strictly told to avoid. She must do it anyway because she's not horny anymore. And when her new succubus friend agrees to help her when she's in way over her head? She just manages to muck everything up, gets said friend captured by crazy vampires, and runs back to Noah in tears and wanting more sex.

(No, I'm really not ruining the plot by mentioning that, don't worry. It's all on the back cover)

She lacks common sense. Every single thing that happens is met with her trying to resist it or she's complaining or she's asking question after stupid question. It just got to the point where I wanted to fling my book across the room because everything that came out of her mouth was so.... idiotic. Having sex with a guy that you don't know that well does not equate to the two of you being ANYWHERE close to boyfriend and girlfriend status.

She's superficial. You hear a boo-hoo woe is me sob story about how her body was so huge, and so this, and so that. But then suddenly, when she gets vibrant red hair, her boobs blow up into beach balls, and she's like a size 4, she whines--more whining!--about how she doesn't want to have sex because of this, and that, and that, and this. Don't get me wrong, I don't usually want to have sex unless I'm in a relationship, so I could kind of understand her struggle. But if you hear you're gonna DIE if you don't have sex....you're really still going to resist? She should go be a nun. Wait, she can't. She's dead.

Now I'm not angry, despite how harsh I sounded while typing those bullet points. If anything, I'm disappointed. First of all, what kind of book would want to reinforce being superficial and a bimbo? There's this huge issue with Jackie and her body image, and suddenly, when she finally gets "the body men would die for," every man becomes a pig and is drooling after her. Now that she's got this far fetched illusion of a body that a lot of women in America strive for, she's finally attractive. So basically, we should all be obsessed with being porn stars, or have double D breasts, and we need to be skinny also, otherwise men won't bat an eye in our direction. Oh yeah, and all men are horny pigs who want to stuff their faces in your chest.

I think I still sound a bit harsh, but there were so many reinforcements for this superficial mindset that I just couldn't drop it. There was such a huge emphasis on breasts in this book, it got ridiculous. She gets double Ds for boobs, and every. single. man she encounters is riveted to her chest. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm pretty sure that not all guys are going to have their eyes glued to a chick's chest, succubus or not.

Character bashing aside, this book wasn't horrible. I think that the outcome was kind of a let down, but Zane and Remy were definitely the redeeming characters. Remy is the other resident succubus (and a porn star) who has kind of just accepted her fate that she needs sex in order to survive. She's superficial too, but she was supportive. Time and time again we, as readers, witness Remy's loyalty to Jackie, and she just turns the other cheek when Jackie "suffers" another bitchy tirade.

Zane is one of the main men in Jackie's new life. I genuinely liked his character. The best way to describe him is to compare him to that kid in middle school who picked on you because he had a crush on you. That's what he initially does with Jackie. But then, as time progresses, he slowly opens up to her. Yet, she can't have sex with him, because he's a vampire. The girl is insane. I definitely would not mind being groped by this guy in that little hallway.

All in all, it was an original story, but the main character left a lot to be desired. And I really wonder why there's so much emphasis on Jackie's boobs. So she's got double Ds, get over it, sheesh. Some people may enjoy this book, some may not. As for me? I think I'll pass on this series. Jackie's too annoying for my taste.